11 Might As Well Be Friends

Raven had been a little started when the queen had told him she did not have many friends. Not that her not having many friends had startled him but it had almost sounded like she lumped him in the category of the few she did. For some reason that made him feel happy.

He managed to find his room. It got easier everyday to make his way around in this darkened life. Being blind was not so bad as he got used to it. His world was dark and he would just have to accept that.

At least he had a memory from before, fully colored. He often thought of her, trying to remember who she was, especially to him. Even scraggily as it was, her hair was still so beautiful…

He had the foggiest notion he had loved her. Because every time he thought of her his heart would do interesting things in his chest. And the fact that she was the only thing he could remember with any sort of clarity, cause there were snippets that he was slowly starting to remember, made him think that girl had probably been his world.

He did not know what stage of a relationship they were in, but he was pretty sure that he had wanted her to be something special with him.

He fell asleep while thinking about it. He was woken up by the noise in his bedroom and someone calling his name. Sitting up he ran his fingers through his lengthy hair. It was not exactly long just not really short either.

And then he remembered that the queen had wanted him to accompany her today to the kingdom of Carendlus. Raven could remember hardly anything about that kingdom except that it was one of the five civilized kingdoms and was rather accepting of magic of all kinds, except dark magic. No place accepted the dark arts.

Raven managed to get up and was soon on his way to find the queen. One of the castle servants stopped him and helped him fix his appearance a bit. Raven honestly had not thought about it. Not being able to see himself made it easy to forget and it was not one of the things that came easily to him.

Raven's queen was waiting on him patiently, "Good morning Raven." There was a briskness to her voice that had been there as far as he could remember and probably longer.

"Morning, my queen." Raven smiled at her, he was sure that deep down Dawn just needed a friend. And he figured that he might as well be that for her. Not like he knew what else to do with himself anyway.

"Well, come along." He felt her walk past him and followed after her. He found himself admiring just how she never seemed to hesitate.

"Get on." Dawn had pulled up short, making him nearly run into her, but he managed to realize and stop just short before he rammed into her. "Do you need any help?"

He reached out and laid a hand on the beast. It was that griffin, the one she had been riding when she had found him. "I think I can manage."

As he was about to get up, he felt something on the back of his head. A beak…Raven froze wondering why the griffin was nuzzling him.

And was it pruning him now? Raven was not entirely sure how to react, especially when Dawn started laughing, "I think he likes you."

Raven merely nodded, not sure how else to react and then clambered on, probably entirely ungracefully. Dawn vaulted on after him, and a moment later he felt a jolt as the griffon lifted into the sky.

The wind whistled through his hair, lifting it away from his face. He found himself tilting up his face to enjoy it.

Dawn seemed to be in a slightly good mood, humming to herself. Not sure what she was humming he tried to pay attention to the sensation of flying. He had not really paid much attention last time, but now he was deciding he rather liked it.

After they arrived at Carendlus she left him to talk to the king here. He was not sure what to do so he stood there awkwardly the whole time she was talking to the people here.

He grew aware that he was being watched but he felt mostly at ease despite that. He was pretty sure it was safe here. Though he did find himself wishing desperately that Dawn would come back.

When she did, finally, she introduced him to the Court Sorcerer of the kingdom. Raven managed to get out some pleasantries, though he was not sure exactly what he said.

It was not long before Dawn was taking him back. They had some other people coming with them as well, but Raven did not really get to know them while on the trip back. He did not even catch their names.